Crime & Thrillers Books

Book SynopsisThe morning of Agatha''s marriage to James Lacey dawns bright and clear. But her luck runs out in the church when Jimmy, the husband she had believed long dead, turns up large as life and twice as ugly. Agatha has a go at strangling him. James breaks off the engagement. So when Jimmy is found murdered next day, Agatha and James are both the prime suspects. And they''ll have to work together in order to clear their names . . .Praise for the Agatha Raisin series:''M. C. Beaton''s imperfect heroine is an absolute gem.'' Publishers Weekly''The detective novels of M. C. Beaton, a master of outrageous black comedy, have reached cult status.'' The Times''Being a cranky, middle-aged female myself, I found Agatha charming!'' Amazon customer review''I dream of being able to speak out like Aggie . . . she''s a heroine!'' A. Lucas, Essex, reader reviewTrade ReviewBeaton's dry sense of humour and her unflattering but affectionate portrait of gruff, often adolescent-acting Agatha makes this & a bloom worth picking. - Publishers WeeklyAnyone interested in a few hours' worth of intelligent, amusing reading will want to make the acquaintance of Mrs. Agatha Raisin. - The Cleveland Pain DealerAgatha Raisin is sharp, witty, hugely intelligent, unfailingly entertaining, delightfully intolerant and oh so magnificently non PC. M C Beaton has created a new national treasure... the stories zing along and are irresistible, unputdownable, a joy. If you buy one book a year, let it be this. Agatha Raisin is The Strongest Link.Engaging - Booklist

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Book SynopsisThe very first Hamish Macbeth crime mystery, from internationally bestselling author M.C.BeatonWhen society widow and gossip columnist Lady Jane Winters joins the local fishing class she wastes no time in ruffling the feathers - or should that be fins? - of those around her.Among the victims of her sharp tongue is Lochdubh constable Hamish Macbeth, yet not even Hamish thinks someone would seriously want to silence Lady Jane''s shrill voice permanently - until her strangled body is fished out of the river.Now with the help of the lovely Priscilla Halburton-Smythe, Hamish must steer a course through the choppy waters of the tattler''s life to find a murderer. But with a school of suspects who aren''t willing to talk, and the dead woman telling no tales, Hamish may well be in over his head for he knows that secrets are dangerous, knowledge is power, and killers when cornered usually do strike again.Praise for the Hamish Macbeth seriTrade ReviewM C Beaton's Hamish Macbeth books are a delight: clever, intricate and sardonic. The flavour is reminiscent of Compton MacKenzie's Whisky Galore and I'm very glad to own a complete setThe much-loved Hamish Macbeth series... a beguiling blend of wry humour and sharp observations of rural life. * Good Book Guide *The detective novels of M C Beaton, a master of outrageous black comedy, have reached cult status. * The Times *It's always a special treat to return to Lochdubh. * The New York Times *

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Book SynopsisThe second Hamish Mcbeth crime mystery, delightfully recovered and re-issued for all the fans of Agatha Raisin.Trade ReviewM C Beaton's Hamish Macbeth books are a delight: clever, intricate and sardonic. The flavour is reminiscent of Compton MacKenzie's Whisky Galore and I'm very glad to own a complete setM C Beaton's Hamish Macbeth books are a delight: clever, intricate and sardonic. The flavour is reminiscent of Compton MacKenzie's Whisky Galore and I'm very glad to own a complete setThe much-loved Hamish Macbeth series... a beguiling blend of wry humour and sharp observations of rural life * Good Book Guide *The much-loved Hamish Macbeth series... a beguiling blend of wry humour and sharp observations of rural life * Good Book Guide *The detective novels of M C Beaton, a master of outrageous black comedy, have reached cult status * The Times *The detective novels of M C Beaton, a master of outrageous black comedy, have reached cult status * The Times *It's always a special treat to return to Lochdubh * New York Times *It's always a special treat to return to Lochdubh * New York Times *Superb entertainment, as rich and warming as a fine malt whisky, and every bit as addictive * Houston Chronicle *Superb entertainment, as rich and warming as a fine malt whisky, and every bit as addictive * Houston Chronicle *An enchanting series....M.C. Beaton has a foolproof plot for the village mystery * New York Times Book Review *An enchanting series....M.C. Beaton has a foolproof plot for the village mystery * New York Times Book Review *Beaton, a Scot herself, excels at giving readers a taste of Highland life and creating a believable character in the lonely, brilliant, continually frustrated-in-love Macbeth * Booklist *Beaton, a Scot herself, excels at giving readers a taste of Highland life and creating a believable character in the lonely, brilliant, continually frustrated-in-love Macbeth * Booklist *Recommended for all mystery collections * Library Journal *Recommended for all mystery collections * Library Journal *

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Book SynopsisA missing person report is not usually something that Hamish Macbeth sees as cause for undue distress.Should a child or a vulnerable person vanish, it''s an urgent matter that needs to be treated seriously, but in Macbeth''s experience, most other people who go missing tend to turn up again before long. So when Kate Hibbert disappears after having last been seen struggling along the road with a heavy suitcase, he is convinced she has gone travelling and reluctantly goes through the motions of investigating.Interviewing those who were closest to her, Macbeth is perplexed by their apparent lack of concern but sees no reason to suspect foul play. When Hibbert does eventually resurface, however, a storm of lies, intrigue and scandal threatens Macbeth''s tranquil village of Lochdubh.Torn between loyalty to his local community and his responsibilities as a police officer, he begins threading his way through a maze of deceit, quickly finding himself on the tr

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Book SynopsisYou think you know someone...Would you bet your life on it?A detective came to her home, drugged her and kidnapped her. She tries to make sense of it, but only one conclusion is possible: it''s the past, come to claim her.His new life seemed perfect - right up until the moment a missed call shatters everything. Ex-journalist Martin Scarsden checks his voicemail, and all he hears is his partner Mandy''s terrified scream before the phone cuts off.Racing home, he finds an unconscious man sprawled on the floor and Mandy gone. Someone has abducted her. But who, and why?So starts a riveting tale of intrigue and danger, as Martin probes the hidden past of the woman he loves. But can he trust her, once her shocking secrets are finally revealed? Even if it means putting everything on the line...Praise for Chris Hammer''The best Australian crime novel for years'' The Times''Shimmers . . . A tortured tale oTrade ReviewStunning ... Scrublands is that rare combination, a page-turner that stays long in the memory -- Joan Smith * Sunday Times (Crime Book of the Month) *An almost perfect crime novel ... Intelligent, thought-provoking, great narrative energy, a central character who's imperfect but self-aware, and of course that amazing setting ... I loved it' -- Ann Cleeves * author of Raven Black and Wild Fire *A dark and brilliant thriller, one that lingers in the mind * Mail On Sunday *Extremely accomplished ... Deliciously noirish ... Set in the blistering heat of a remote Australian town ravaged by drought and threatened by bushfires, this is a complex, meaty, intelligent mystery ... Hammer's writing is so evocative the heat practically rises off the pages of Scrublands -- Alison Flood * Guardian 'Best Recent Thrillers' *My pick for debut thriller of the month (and maybe of 2019) ... Beautifully written, this would make a terrific small-screen series -- Bethanne Patrick * Washington Post *Well-rounded characters, masterful plotting and real breadth; this is an epic and immersive read -- Laura Wilson * Guardian *A heatwave of a novel, scorching and powerful... Extraordinary * AJ Finn *Atmospheric, utterly gripping, and written with devastating beauty. Scrublands is as scorching as wildfire and as hard to look away from -- Gytha Lodge * author of She Lies in Wait *Incendiary . . . A rattling good read, ambitious in scale and scope and delivering right up to the last, powerfully moving page -- Declan Hughes * Irish Times *Scrublands is the epic novel about rural life in Australia that we need right now ... It sits right up there with the late Peter Temple's Broken Shore, Garry Disher's Bitterwash Road and Jane Harper's The Dry, even as it extends their focus and reach ... Remarkable -- Sue Turnbull * Sydney Morning Herald *It's hard not to compare Chris Hammer's Scrublands to Jane Harper's acclaimed The Dry ... [It will] capture your imagination from the first page -- Karen Hardy * The Age *Set in the parched Australian landscape, Scrublands is a brilliantly plotted thriller which reveals a town full of brooding secrets. I couldn't put this compelling debut down -- Sarah Ward * author of The Shrouded Path *Scrublands kidnapped me for 48 hours. I was hopelessly lost in the scorching Australian landscape, disoriented but completely immersed in the town and people of Riversend, as the heat crackled off the pages. I was devastated when it was time to go back to the real world. This book is a force of nature. A must-read for all crime fiction fans * Sarah Bailey *Brilliant and unsettling, Scrublands stands at the junction of Snowtown and Wake in Fright, that place where Australia's mirage of bush tranquillity evaporates into our hidden fears * Paul Daley, writer and journalist *A superbly drawn, utterly compelling evocation of a small town riven by a shocking crime * Mark Brandi *Hammer's portrait of a dying, drought-struck town numbed by a priest's unimaginable act of violence will capture you from the first explosive page and refuse to let go until the last. His remarkable writing takes you inside lives twisted by secrets festering beneath the melting heat of the inland, the scrub beyond waiting to burst into flame. Scrublands is the read of the year. Unforgettable * Tony Wright *A compulsively page-turning thriller where the parched interior looms as large as the characters -- Katharine Murphy * Guardian Australia *

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Book SynopsisThe fifth novel in Anne Perry''s breathtakingly tense and exciting spy thriller series, featuring young British photographer and secret agent Elena Standish, set in the 1930s when the world was a place of increasing fear and uncertainty...As Hitler''s influence spreads across Europe, the future of Britain is at stake...It is late summer 1934 when retired MI6 agent John Repton''s body is found near Wyndham Hall in the Cotswolds. Repton was killed while investigating the Wyndham family''s ties to fascist sympathisers, and Elena Standish is assigned to discover if one of them resorted to murder . . . Meanwhile, Elena''s sister Margot is courting Lady Wyndham''s brother and, unaware that Elena is a spy, Margot invites her to attend a house party at Wyndham Hall along with her colleague James Allenby, who masquerades as her suitor. As the atmosphere becomes increasingly tense, Elena and Allenby begin to expose the allegianTrade ReviewMasterful! It's exceedingly rare for an author to have the talent to blend classic elements of a thriller with compelling family dynamics and geopolitical intrigue, but Anne Perry pulls it off ... And I guarantee you'll love Elena Standish! Brava! -- Jeffery DeaverReaders will root for the forceful, independent Elena, who will appeal to Maisie Dobbs fans. Perry knows how to ratchet up the international intrigue * Publishers Weekly *The perfect time period to showcase a family's impassioned defence of democracy and social justice in the face of rising totalitarianism. . . At turns heartbreaking and action-packed, this gripping and superbly written story proves Perry still has what it takes * Library Journal *

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Book SynopsisA skirmish wargame set in a dangerous galaxy where players command a small crew of adventurers hunting for loot, while trying not to call too much attention to their activities.In a galaxy torn apart by the Last War, vast pirate fleets roam from system to system, robbing, extorting, and enslaving. Attempts to organize resistance, or to establish authority over any territory larger than a city, are quickly and brutally crushed. In this dark time, the only way to survive is to be inconspicuous and hope to be overlooked. Amidst this chaos, however, thousands of independent operators--smugglers, relic hunters, freedom fighters, and mercenaries--roam the dead stars in small ships, scratching out a living anyway they can.In Stargrave, players take on the role of one of these independent operators. Perhaps they are a cybernetic veteran of the Last War, a psion fleeing slavers, or a mystic warrior attempting to preserve ancient wisdom. Maybe they are a bounty hTrade ReviewMan I’m pumped! This is just the game. -- Ash Barker * Guerilla Miniature Games *I’ve never been more excited. It get’s your creative juices flowing. * Robs Tabletop World *Its gameplay on the tabletop is tactically rewarding, and its surrounding narrative flavour tantalising. * Wargamer *We felt Stargrave is up there with the very best of the sci-fi games we’ve played. * Wargames, Soldiers & Strategy *It’s an exciting book and we’re looking forward to getting into some Stargrave gaming soon. * Wargames Illustrated *I’m impressed. Stargrave makes me wish I had a room with a decent-sized table in it. Those are dangerous thoughts. * GeekNative *

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Book SynopsisA roleplaying game of fast-moving beat 'em up action take to the streets, take on the gangs, take back your City!As night falls over the City, a storm is brewing in the streets below. The gangs have taken over. They rule with an iron fist, their will enforced by armies of thugs and brawlers. Gutters run red. The authorities have either sold out or are stretched too thin to make a difference. Might makes right. You will not tolerate this any longer. Uniting with a crew of like-minded individuals, you head out to reclaim your home, protecting neighborhoods, inspiring others to take a stand, and clashing with gang enforcers as you work your way through their ranks, seeking to cut the head from the snake coiled at the heart of the City.Urban Decay is a roleplaying game of beat 'em up action inspired by classic arcade video games, movies, and comic-books. Players take on the roles of warriors, martial artists, vigilantes, and ordinary citizens, taki

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Discover Dorothy L. Sayers' inimitable Golden Age detective in this newly published collection of the complete Lord Peter Wimsey stories. Presented in chronological order, these short stories see Lord Peter Wimsey bringing his trademark wit and unique detection skills to all manner of mysteries. From poisoned port to murder in fancy dress, Wimsey draws on his many skills - including his expertise in fine wine and appreciation of fine art - to solve cases far and wide, some even taking him to foreign countries and unexpected hiding places in pursuit of miscreants and murderers.Containing 21 stories taken from Lord Peter Views the Body, Hangman's Holiday, In the Teeth of the Evidence and Striding Folly, now published together for the first time in one volume, this is the ultimate collection for fans of classic detective fiction and Dorothy L. Sayers.'She brought to the detective novel originality, intelligence, energy and wit.' P. D. James

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Book SynopsisA gripping saga evoking the spirit of the 1970s East End, from the author of Room for a Lodger and Banished from Bow.Sandy Brent''s life is blown apart the day her husband offers to drive her to work. On the way he tells her that their marriage is over and that he''s seeing someone else. Sandy''s refusal to believe that it''s finished sends Roy into a frenzy - and the car into a head-on collision. When she wakes in hospital, Sandy is alone, and must start her life over from scratch. She decides to head back to her roots in the colourful East End and set up her own boutique. But someone is set on bringing her down: her own sister, Ruth. Deeply angry towards Sandy because of a childhood secret, Ruth is determined to see her sister run aground. Gathering her new friends and neighbours around to combat Ruth''s warped machinations, Sandy needs to draw on strength she never knew she had. Then disaster strikes again...Trade ReviewShe brings the East End to life -- Barbara WindsorUnbridled passions run riot * Daily Mail *Sizzles with passion * Guardian on WILD HOPS *A rich, vivid, three-dimensional, gutsy and sexy narrative which has you turning the pages into the early hours * Eastern Daily Press on WILD HOPS *

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Book SynopsisA brilliantly creepy and utterly mesmerising novel about the neighbours from hell, from the author of the bestselling Lie With Me.

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Book SynopsisDetective Huldar and psychologist Freyja are once again on the trail of a serial killer in this brilliant new novel from the internationally acclaimed author of Gallows Rock and The Silence of the Sea.Trade ReviewI love the Children's House series and Yrsa delivers again with The Doll. Such engaging characters and a compelling, twisted and creepy mystery-I couldn't put it down! * Shari Lapena *Yrsa is a wonderful storyteller. Her stories are atmospheric, mysterious and brilliantly plotted . . . you will never see the twists coming * Mari Hannah *Broody Icelandic thriller * Peterborough Telegraph *

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisSOON TO BE A MAJOR GLOBAL NETFLIX ADAPTATION STARRING JULIA ROBERTS, KEVIN BACON, ETHAN HAWKE AND MAHERSHALA ALI *A THE TIMES #1 BESTSELLER* *THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER* *A BARACK OBAMA SUMMER READING PICK 2021* 'Easily the best thing I have read all year' KILEY REID, AUTHOR OF SUCH A FUN AGE 'Intense, incisive, I loved this and have still not quite shaken off the unease' DAVID NICHOLLS 'I was hooked from the opening pages' CLARE MACKINTOSH 'Simply breathtaking . . . An extraordinary book, at once smart, gripping and hallucinatory’ OBSERVER _______ A magnetic novel about two families, strangers to each other, who are forced together on a long weekend gone terribly wrong Amanda and Clay head to a remote corner of Long Island expecting a holiday: a quiet reprieve from life in New York City, quality time with their teenage son and daughter and a taste of the good life in the luxurious home they've rented for the week. But with a late-night knock on the door, the spell is broken. Ruth and G. H., an older couple who claim to own the home, have arrived there in a panic. These strangers say that a sudden power outage has swept the city, and - with nowhere else to turn - they have come to the country in search of shelter. But with the TV and internet down, and no phone service, the facts are unknowable. Should Amanda and Clay trust this couple - and vice versa? What has happened back in New York? Is the holiday home, isolated from civilisation, a truly safe place for their families? And are they safe from one another? _______ FINALIST FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD 2020 FINALIST FOR THE ORWELL PRIZE 2021 A DAILY TELEGRAPH, GUARDIAN, OBSERVER, IRISH TIMES AND TIME BOOK OF THE YEAR Everyone is talking about LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND 'You will probably need to read it in as close to one sitting as possible’ Sunday Times 'A page-turner taking in themes of isolation, race and class’ Guardian ‘A book that could have been tailor-made for our times’ The Times ‘A literary page-turner that will keep you awake even after it ends’ Mail on Sunday 'An exceptional examination of race and class and what the world looks like when it's ending' Roxane Gay 'A thrilling book - one that will speak to readers who have felt the terror of isolation in these recent months and one that will simultaneously, as great books do, lift them out of it' Vogue 'Explores complex ideas about privilege and fate with miraculous wit and grace' Jenny Offill ‘For the reader, the invisible terror outside in Leave the World Behind echoes the sense of disquiet today in a world convulsed by the pandemic’ Financial Times 'Alam's achievement is to see that his genre's traditional arc, which relies on the idea of aftermath, no longer makes sense. Today, disaster novels call for something different' New Yorker 'Read it with the lights on' Jenna Bush Hager, October Book Club pickTrade ReviewStupendously good . . . Simply breathtaking, full of moments of exquisite recognition, as terrifying and prescient as Cormac McCarthy’s The Road . . . Leave the World Behind is an extraordinary book, at once smart, gripping and hallucinatory . . . When future generations (if that term doesn’t sound over-optimistic at the moment) want to know what it was like to live through the nightmare of 2020, this is the novel they’ll reach for * Observer *Would be resonant and terrifying even in a more normal year . . . In his dazzling prose, his fascination with catastrophe and his apparent ability to portend the future, Alam is a worthy descendant of Don DeLillo . . . You will probably need to read it in as close to one sitting as possible * Sunday Times *A sensation . . . A tense, atmospheric, splendidly written attempt to grapple with impending doom … Even in its infancy, Leave the World Behind was well poised to become the book of an era . . . A striking, unsettling novel * Independent *Without any exaggeration, I can honestly say that I devoured Leave the World Behind, in one greedy, uneasy gulp. It’s a taut page-turner – one that starts out as a smart, knowing, contemporary comedy of manners, but quickly spirals into an apocalyptic nightmare so terrifyingly realistic that it sent shivers down my spine * Daily Telegraph *For the reader, the invisible terror outside in Leave the World Behind echoes the sense of disquiet today in a world convulsed by the pandemic. There are intense parallels between the unreality of life in the Long Island bolt-hole described in the book and lockdown . . . The novel excels in its dissection of modern liberal America and forces the reader to confront the limits of their own heroism in the face of disaster * Financial Times *A book that could have been tailor-made for our times, with its tale of racial tensions and an unnatural disaster . . . It’s a close-up narrative, and its strength lies in the emotional pull . . . There’s something for everyone: that is, to terrify everyone, from parents to nature lovers to hypochondriacs * The Times *A page-turner, taking in themes of isolation, race and class . . . As the author of a book about people trapped inside a house by a huge event, desperate for information, Alam is a curious prophet . . . Alam has an almost anthropological eye for the absurdities of the upper-middle class, for the blindness of white people . . . Leave the World Behind was influenced by Jordan Peele’s film Get Out, apparent in Alam’s acuity on whiteness. But the closest literary comparison could be Shirley Jackson, whose cold, detached voice can be heard in Alam’s narrator when we are shown glimpses of what is happening in the wider world * Guardian *Rumaan Alam creates an atmosphere of dread so convincing and prescient that it stays with the reader long after reading . . . Explores issues of race, class and identity in the face of overwhelming disaster * Irish Times *Alam has built an apocalyptic thriller around a single concept: what would you do if the world was crumbling around you? . . . This novel is catching hold of its readers, and it’s easy to see why . . . A bracing read. The story is crafted with a deft lightness of touch and, at a mere 240 pages, it’s brisk and unfaltering. But it’s the eeriness of the burgeoning apocalypse, and the paralytic inability of the protagonists to help themselves, that will stay with you the longest * Irish Independent *An exacting and dread-inducing story of suspicion, prejudice and hysteria . . . It feels so entwined with the DNA of 2020, capturing the hallucinatory quality which time takes on when stuck inside not knowing what the future holds * Esquire *Once you read this topical and gripping novel, it’s all you’ll want to talk about * Stylist *Rumaan Alam’s elegant novel presents a scenario familiar to many readers of contemporary fiction in 2020: a mass power meltdown . . . Alam controls the tension by almost imperceptible degrees . . . A wonderful novel about the figurative walls we build to keep the world outside * Metro *If the first half can turn a mirror on you, the second half will shatter it . . . Undeniably haunting * New York Times *Poised to be one of the biggest titles of the fall . . . A comedy of manners wrapped inside a tense disaster plot * New York Magazine *A slippery and duplicitous marvel of a novel . . . Leave the World Behind is atmospheric and prescient: its rhythms of comedy alternating with shock and despair mimic so much of the rhythms of life right now . . . A signature novel for this blasted year * NPR *Rarely have I encountered a book so cuttingly prescient about the current emotional atmosphere . . . Alam’s deployment of creepy, inexplicable detail is masterful . . . This is a thrilling book - one that will speak to readers who have felt the terror of isolation in these recent, torturous months and one that will simultaneously, as great books do, lift them out of it * Vogue *Alam has written a genuine literary thriller, one that is also a disturbing window into our precarious age * Independent *The fall's biggest novel * Entertainment Weekly *Enthralling . . . Alam keeps close to his characters, who, like insects in acrylic, remain trapped in a state of suspended unease. This, he suggests, is the modern disaster – the precarity of American life, which leaves us unsure, always, if things can get worse . . . Alam’s achievement is to see that his genre’s traditional arc, which relies on the idea of aftermath, no longer makes sense. Today, disaster novels call for something different, a recognition that we won’t find a new normal * New Yorker *Like Stephen King’s 1980 novella The Mist, Leave the World Behind expertly illustrates the horror of the unknown, the almost painful humanity we feel when facing down the end and, of course, human nature under duress. During an era of plague, racism, hatred, and division, this tale of a vacation gone awry is terrifyingly prescient * Rolling Stone *One of the eeriest, most disturbing stories I've read in some time . . . The contours of everything might be recognisable, but what's contained within is wholly deranged * Refinery 29 *Riveting and claustrophobic, Leave the World Behind invites us to sit with our discomfort and reflect on our own rushed judgments, delivering a dazzling and dark examination of family, race, class and what matters most when the impossible becomes possible * Esquire *Leave the World Behind is that rarest of things: a beautifully written, emotionally resonant page-turner. Alam explores complex ideas about privilege and fate with miraculous wit and grace * Jenny Offill, author of Weather *Perfectly paced, clever and haunting . . . This is one of those stories that inspires a hungry turn of pages, preceded by that desperate and lovely need to come up for air. So easily the best thing I've read all year * Kiley Reid, author of Such a Fun Age *This is an exceptional examination of race and class and what the world looks like when it’s ending – not at all different from the world we are in now * Roxane Gay, author of Hunger *Rumaan Alam's Leave the World Behind is a canny Trojan horse of a novel, and also a Pandora's Box. Like the family at its center, we're seduced utterly by the bounty and insularity of its world, only to find ourselves, inch by inch, approaching a larger darkness lurking just beyond. With a potent Shirley Jackson energy, it is both eerily timeless and sharply prescient at once, and lingers long after its final page * Megan Abbott, author of Give Me Your Hand *Leave the World Behind is so many things--funny, sharp, insightful about modernity and race and parenthood and home--but at its core it's a story of our shared apocalypse; a steady look at humanity in the moment it tumbles from a great height. I have not been this profoundly unnerved by a science fiction novel since Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go. * Carmen Maria Machado, author of Her Body and Other Parties *Here in your hands, wrapped in the delicious cloth of suspense, Rumaan Alam begs us to ask the most important questions. How do we let the other in? Where do we draw the borders of home? A prescient book, built for these strange times, sure to entrance and electrify * Samantha Hunt, author of The Dark Dark *Suspenseful and provocative, Rumaan Alam's third novel is keenly attuned to the complexities of parenthood, race, and class. Leave the World Behind explores how our closest bonds are reshaped--and unexpected new ones are forged--in moments of crisis * Laura Lippman, author of Lady in the Lake *

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Book Synopsis''A heart stopping thriller, a heartfelt mystery'' CHRIS WHITAKER ''A clever, chilling thriller that is also unexpectedly moving'' SHARI LAPENA ''Kept me guessing until the very end'' IAN RANKIN ''Incredible plotting and devastatingly good writing'' THE SECRET BARRISTER Sophie King is missing. Her parents, Harry and Zara, are distraught; for the last seventeen years, they''ve done everything for their beloved only daughter and now she''s gone. The police have no leads, and Harry and Zara are growing increasingly frantic, although they are both dealing with it in very different ways. Increasingly obsessed with their highly suspicious neighbour who won''t open the door or answer any questions, they are both coming to the same conclusion. If they want answers, they''re going to have to take matters into their own hands. But just how far are they prepared to go for the love of their daughter? ''Powerfully and brilliantly written'' VASEEM KHAN ''Pure brilliance'' JANICE HALLETT''Wow, what an ending!'' C. L. TAYLOR ''An astonishingly twisty tale of despair, deception and desperation'' LIZ NUGENT An Observer thriller of the month.

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Book SynopsisAs autumn draws in, a series of unexplained vicious attacks occur in a small northern town renowned for being a bohemian backwater. As the national media descends, local journalist Roddy Mace attempts to tell the story, but finds the very nature of truth brought into question. He turns to disgraced detective James Brindle for help. When further attacks occur the shattered community becomes the focus of an accelerating media that favours immediacy over truth. Murder and myth collide in a folk-crime story about place, identity and the tangled lives of those who never leave.Trade ReviewAs good as anything being written in Britain today -- HORATIO CLARELayers of landscape, myth and the hidden underbelly of everyday life outside of the metropolis are built up as the plot unfolds and the darkness grows. By now you should all know how good a writer Myers is. If you don’t, These Darkening Days will be more than enough to convince you * LOUD & QUIET *A powerful novel by a writer who has found his subject and the voice that best expresses it … He could be Yorkshire’s Iain Sinclair as well as its Cormac McCarthy * BOOKMUNCH *Subtle and compelling, controlled and atmospheric – perfect, in fact, for the long dark nights ahead * MORNING STAR *He’s James Ellroy with a flat cap and a terrier -- JOHN MITCHINSONThe collective blood pressure of the Yorkshire tourist board must ratchet up several notches every time that Myers publishes a new novel, but for the rest of us this is gripping stuff * THE CRACK *Everything here, from the now-familiar landscapes to the description of life at the local newspaper and the behaviour of parachuted-in Sun reporters, is note perfect…But the book goes much further, delving into society’s hysterical narcissism and the way its tendrils snake all the way back into myth, legend and half-forgotten community history. There’s no question that this is a superb piece of work….a fantastic eye for landscape and great political and cultural insight…it’s funny, brutal and properly thrilling * THRILL FILTER *The writing is stunning, from the occasional sentence which catches you and brings you up short – The streetlights wear soft halos in the mist – through to the ability to evoke the grittiness of this northern town in a few words. Sometimes I found myself going back and rereading sections, just for the pleasure the words gave. In places it’s almost poetic. And it’s all brilliant * BOOK BAG *

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for the Theakston Old Peculiar Crime Novel of the Year 2023Into the Dark is the gripping crime thriller from Fiona Cummins about revenge, greed, ambition and the true cost of friendship.‘Complex. Inventive. Twisting. Unsettling’ – Sarah Vaughan, bestselling author of Anatomy of a ScandalThe Place: Seawings, a beautiful art deco home overlooking the sweep of the bay in Midtown-on-Sea.The Crime: The gilded Holden family – Piper and Gray and their two teenage children – have vanished from the house without a trace.The Detective: DS Saul Anguish, brilliant but with a dark past, treads the narrow line between light and shade.One late autumn morning, Piper’s best friend arrives at Seawings to discover an eerie scene – the radio is playing, phones are charging on the worktop, the cars are in the garage. But the house is deserted.In fifteen-year-old Riva Holden’s bedroom, scrawled across the mirror in blood, are three words:MakeThemStop.What happens next?Trade ReviewBreathless plotting and twist after twist -- Ian Rankin, author of A Heart Full of HeadstonesThis kept me reading well Into The Dark last night – so many layers of darkness and twisty complexity -- Harriet Tyce, bestselling author of Blood OrangeAn absolute BELTER of a thriller. A superb plot, brilliantly executed and beautifully written -- Joanna Cannon, bestselling author of The Trouble with Goats and SheepAn absolute masterclass in misdirection. Trust NO ONE. I loved it -- Sarah Hilary, bestselling author of FragileClassy, complex, filled with twists and dizzying reveals and TOTALLY addictive -- Chris Ewan, author of The InterviewGripping. Twisty. Complex. No one does ‘dark with heart’ better than Fiona Cummins -- Tammy Cohen, author of The Wedding PartyFiona Cummins evokes the dark arts of journalism and politics with an insider’s relish in this rich, intricately woven novel of childhood crime and adult redemption. I finished it with my heart in my mouth. Highly recommended -- Louise Candlish on When I Was TenGrips like a vice -- Val McDermid on When I Was TenAbsorbing, tense and beautifully paced -- Daily Mail on When I Was TenDark, creepy and ultimately compassionate . . . a chilling look at the consequences of a childhood gone wrong -- J. P. Delaney on When I Was TenUtterly compelling; a true just-one-more-chapter thriller -- Clare Mackintosh on When I Was TenTrust me – Cummins is a keeper -- Lee Child on The Collector

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Book SynopsisCould you sacrifice one of your children to save the other?*SUNDAY EXPRESS BEST BOOKS OF 2023**AN IRISH TOP TEN BESTSELLER*‘A gripping crime narrative which blends so seamlessly with emotional family drama’ - Erin KellyAn unbearable decisionHeld up at gunpoint by two vicious killers, Christina Hardwicke is ordered to make an unthinkable choice – between the life of her daughter or her son.An unsuspecting familyWhen the Hardwicke family set off on a holiday to the Scottish Highlands, the last thing they expected was to be confronted by a deadly couple on a killing spree.A nightmare come to lifeTailed closely by Detective Saul Anguish, the damaged pair have committed a string of ruthless killings across the country, all leading to this moment.Will the detective be able to reach the Hardwicke family before catastrophe strikes?Everyone is talking

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Book SynopsisWinner of The Bloody Scotland Crime Debut of the Year Shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Book of the Year 2021 and the CWA Historical Dagger 2022Edge of the Grave by Robbie Morrison is a dark historical crime novel set in 1930s Glasgow. A city still recovering from the Great War; split by religious division and swarming with razor gangs. For fans of William McIlvanney’s Laidlaw, Denise Mina and Philip Kerr.'Peaky Blinders meets William McIlvanney in this rollocking riveting read' – Adrian McKinty, author of The ChainGlasgow, 1932. When the son-in-law of one of the city’s wealthiest shipbuilders is found floating in the River Clyde with his throat cut, it falls to Inspector Jimmy Dreghorn to lead the murder case – despite sharing a troubled history with the victim’s widow, Isla Lockhart.From the flying fists and flashing blades of Glasgow’s gangland underworld, to the backstabbing upper echelons of government and big business, Dreghorn and his partner ‘Bonnie’ Archie McDaid will have to dig deep into Glasgow society to find out who wanted the man dead and why.All the while, a sadistic murderer stalks the post-war city leaving a trail of dead bodies in their wake. As the case deepens, will Dreghorn find the killer – or lose his own life in the process?'Astounding. Tense, absorbing and dripping with gallus Glasgow humour, this book is absolutely wonderful' – Abir Mukherjee, author of the Wyndham & Banerjee series'A magnificent and enthralling portrait of a dark and dangerous city . . . Chilling and brutal, but also deeply moving and, most importantly, beautifully written' – Mark BillinghamTrade ReviewI’ve been waiting years to read a truly gripping historical crime novel set in Glasgow. That wait is over. Edge of the Grave is astounding. Tense, absorbing and dripping with gallus Glasgow humour, this book is absolutely wonderful -- Abir Mukherjee, bestselling author of the Wyndham & Banerjee seriesA magnificent and enthralling portrait of a dark and dangerous city and the men and women who live and die in it. I can’t wait to spend some more time with Jimmy Dreghorn and Archie McDaid. Robbie Morrison has produced an astounding debut -- Mark BillinghamA mesmerizing debut – raw, brutally violent but immensely human. Early gangland Glasgow with the gloss razored off -- Peter James, number one bestselling author of the DS Roy Grace seriesRobbie Morrison serves up a delicious slice of 30s gangster noir set in the grim and greasy, sodden and savage streets of Glasgow when it was the Empire's Second City. Peaky Blinders meets William McIlvanney in this rollocking riveting read -- Adrian McKinty, bestselling author of The ChainA Glaswegian version of Peaky Blinders, with razor gangs brawling in the street and festering family secrets . . . it's a dark and powerful story * Sunday Times *A hugely impressive debut * Evening Standard *Wonderfully gritty, violent and nasty in all the right ways -- James Oswald, bestselling author of the Inspector McLean seriesThe atmosphere Morrison conjures is so captivating it's hard to believe this is his debut crime novel . . . You should grab Edge of the Grave at the soonest opportunity. This is without doubt the most evocative and engaging Scottish crime novel we've come across in a very long time -- Crime Fiction LoverBrilliant * The Times *Meticulously researched and dripping with violence, written with brutal panache -- Mary Paulson-Ellis, author of Waterstones Scottish Book of the Year, The Other Mrs WalkerSharp and lethal as a cut-throat razor. Deeply researched, with strong characterisation and a fluent narrative, Robbie Morrison’s first novel is a book to savour -- John Harvey, bestselling author of the Charlie Resnick novels1930s Glasgow portrayed in all its ragged glory -- Alan ParksRobbie Morrison really is a breath of fresh creative air in crime fiction. Edge of the Grave is a stunning debut: razor sharp prose and a superbly crafted sense of place and time. A great Glaswegian page-turner: I could smell the smog and feel the grit throughout -- Craig Russell, author of the LENNOX seriesThe dark heart of 1930s gangland Glasgow is brought back to vivid, violent life in Robbie Morrison's brilliant first novel. Fast moving and evocative, the prose cuts like a razor, straight through to the heart -- Martyn WaitesFantastic historical crime thriller set in 1930s Glasgow with a great detective duo and loads of brilliant period detail — poverty, wealth, gangs, religion and so much more -- Amer AnwarPowerful and moving . . . Morrison's portrait of Glasgow and its denizens – both the vicious and the virtuous – is superb * Literary Review *This deftly plotted novel is a more than worthy successor to William McIlvanney’s Laidlaw novels: the title is a homage to them. I am very glad that this book is the first in a projected series * Historical Novel Society *A highly evocative novel with a strong sense of place and Morrison brings to dark life this time period in an engaging and mesmerizing way. As Morrison grows with each novel, he will indeed be a force to be reckoned with * Crimesquad.com *An historical tour de force along with a brilliant plot * Globe and Mail *

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Book SynopsisSettled Blood is Mari Hannah’s second gripping crime novel featuring DCI Kate Daniels.When a young girl is found dead at the base of Hadrian’s Wall, it’s not long before Detective Chief Inspector Kate Daniels realizes that her death was no ordinary homicide. She was thrown from a great height – and was probably alive before she hit the ground.When a local businessman reports his daughter missing, has Daniels found the identity of the victim, or is a killer playing a sickening game?As the murder investigation team delves deeper into the case, half-truths are told and secrets exposed. And while Daniels makes her way through a mountain of obstacles, time is running out for one terrified girl . . .Trade ReviewBrutal, shockingly realistic and satisfyingly unpredictable, this is a thrilling, chilling tale with an eclectic cast, formidable star player and charismatic location ideally suited to the small screen * The Clitheroe Advertiser and Times *

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Book SynopsisThe Interview is a gripping locked-room thriller from C. M. Ewan, the acclaimed author of A Window Breaks and the half-a-million-copy bestseller Safe House.It’s 5 p.m. on a Friday.You have been called to an interview for your dream job.In a stunning office thirteen floors above the city below, you are all alone with the man interviewing you.Everyone else has gone home for the weekend.The interview gets more and more disturbing.You’re feeling scared.Your only way out is to answer a seemingly impossible question.If you can’t . . . what happens next?What authors are saying . . .‘C.M. Ewan never once drops the pace in this heart-pounding rollercoaster of a thriller that had me up all night’ - Clare Mackintosh, author of Hostage‘A brilliant hook, a breakneck game of cat and mouse, and twists galore’ - Tim Weaver, author of The Shadow at the Door‘A fast-paced twisty read that races along like an action movie’ - Sarah Pinborough, author of Insomnia‘I can’t stop thinking about The Interview. I loved it’ - Sarah Hilary, author of Fragile‘I couldn’t put The Interview down. Totally brilliant’ - B A Paris, author of The Therapist‘A terrifying, heart-stopping ride’ - Sharon Bolton, author of The Split‘So tense and twisty. An absolute nail-biter of a novel!’ - Gilly Macmillan, author of The Long WeekendWhat readers are saying . . .‘Oh boy did I enjoy this book! The definition of a keep you up all night, read in one sitting thriller’‘I read this beauty in a day, had so much else to do but just couldn't put it down’‘Wow, this book blew me away! I was hooked immediately and found the concept, both exciting and highly original’‘YOU GUYS! If you haven't read this book, DO IT NOW!’Trade ReviewC M Ewan never once drops the pace in this heart-pounding rollercoaster of a thriller that had me up all night. -- Clare Mackintosh, Sunday Times bestselling author of The HostageA brilliant hook, a breakneck game of cat and mouse, and twists galore: Ewan always delivers . . . -- Tim Weaver, author of the David Raker seriesA terrifying, heart-stopping ride and a highly original and deeply disturbing thriller. I've been a Chris Ewan fan for a while, but in this book he soars to another level entirely. -- Sharon Bolton, author of The SplitI couldn't put The Interview down. Totally brilliant -- B A ParisC. M. Ewan has created the most incredible cat and mouse game in his propulsive novel, The Interview. He is an absolute master of the knife-edge thriller. -- Liv Matthews, author of The PrankI can't stop thinking about The Interview. I loved it -- Sarah Hilary, author of FragileCM Ewan has a well-deserved reputation as one of Britain’s best thriller writers. The Interview is a tense, twisting novel that will keep you gripped until the very last page. -- Adam Hamdy, author of Black 13 and Red WolvesA fast-paced and incredibly tense locked room thriller. Kept me guessing all the way to the end. It makes the job interviews in The Apprentice look like a walk in the park . . . -- John Marrs, author of The OneThis was so tense and twisty! An absolute nail biter of a novel. It inspires me to double down on the writing career as I'm never, ever going to a job interview again! -- Gilly Macmillan, author of To Tell You The TruthA slick, adrenalin-soaked corporate thriller that will keep you right on the edge of your seat -- Catherine Ryan Howard, author of 56 DaysIt's brilliant. This startling novel upends the reader’s cocky expectations. I have never found it so difficult to resist flipping ahead to see if what I think is happening is happening. Don’t do it! You’ll be wrong and you’ll miss half the fun. -- Hart Hanson, the creator/showrunner of BonesA fast-paced twisty read that races along like an action movie -- Sarah PinboroughThis is the sort of novel you read with your heart in your mouth. When you think you know where it's going, there's another plot-altering twist . . . a terrific, quite frightening read. * Belfast Telegraph *What a fantastic thriller. A clever set up and a relentlessly gripping, surprising and vividly written story. -- Cath Staincliffe, author of Running out of RoadGripping. * Choice Magazine *

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Book SynopsisThe electrifying novel from the Booker shortlisted author of Everything Under. 'A short sharp explosion of a gothic thriller' ObserverSomething unspeakable has happened to sisters July and September. Desperate for a fresh start, they move across the country to an old family house that has a troubled life of its own. Noises come from behind the walls. Lights flicker of their own accord. Sleep feels impossible, dreams are endless.In their new, unsettling surroundings, July finds that the fierce bond she's always had with September - forged with a blood promise when they were children - is beginning to change in ways she cannot understand.Trade ReviewA short, sharp explosion of a gothic thriller whose tension ratchets up and up to an ending of extraordinary lyricism and virtuosity. * Observer *Fiction to Look Out for in 2020* *A haunting, emotionally acute novel with a terrific twist. -- Claire Allfree * Daily Mail *Christmas Fiction* *[A] gothic masterpiece... You can't stop reading... This taut, lyrical firecracker of a book crescendos into an emotional ambush of a climax, which...confirms Johnson as a profoundly inventive and masterful storyteller. -- Gwendolyn Smith * i *A tour-de-force... Johnson's prose seduces us with the promise of comfort and then yanks that comfort away. -- Erica Wagner * Guardian *Book of the Day* *Exhilarating... A masterful follow up to her debut, Johnson's novel is quietly terrifying and certainly an apt read for 2020. * Evening Standard *

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Book SynopsisA MISSING FILMMAKER. A STOLEN ANTIQUE. SOMEONE WILL KILL TO STOP THEM BEING FOUND... 'Denise Mina is crime-writing royalty' Val McDermid, author of A Place of ExecutionWhen filmmaker, Lisa Lee goes missing, alongside a priceless Roman silver casket, there is no doubt the two are linked together.The day after her vanishing, the casket is listed for auction in Paris with a reserve price of fifty million euros.On a thrilling chase across Europe to discover what happened to Lisa, journalists Anna and Fin are caught up in a world of international art smuggling, billionaire con artists and religious zealotry.______________________________'Riveting, fast-paced'Sunday Times'A joy to read'Daily Telegraph'A cinematic thriller... Hitchcockian'The Times*A Scotsman Book of the Year**PRE-ORDER THE SECOND MURDERER. Journey through the shadowy underbelly of 1950s LA with iconic detective Philip Marlowe in Denise Mina's new murder mystery. Out in July 2023. *Trade ReviewDenise Mina is the cream of the crop, an author who pushes the crime novel in new and exciting directions -- Ian RankinDenise Mina is crime-writing royalty -- Val McDermidRiveting, fast-paced * Sunday Times *A cinematic thriller... Hitchcockian * The Times *[It is Mina's] sulphurous wit that makes her books a joy to read * Daily Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisThe highly-anticipated second instalment in the CRIME trilogy, now a hit TV SeriesIn Edinburgh, Detective Inspector Ray Lennox is investigating a brutal crime...Ritchie Gulliver MP is dead. Castrated and left to bleed in an empty Leith warehouse. Vicious, racist and corrupt, many thought he had it coming. But nobody could have predicted this.After the life Gulliver has led, the suspects are many - corporate rivals, political opponents, the countless groups he's offended. And the vulnerable and marginalised, who bore the brunt of his cruelty.As Lennox unravels the truth, and the list of shocking attacks grows, he must put his personal feelings aside. But one question refuses to go away: who are the real victims here?'Sharp, fearless, passionate and brilliant' Independent'An ingeniously plotted and propulsive thriller' Literary ReviewTrade ReviewAn ingeniously plotted and propulsive thriller... bristling with risky satire and moral disgust. * Literary Review *If you like your crime dramas Scottish and sweary, this one's for you. -- Jessie Thompson * Evening Standard, *Books to Look Out For 2022* *A triumph... A great, redemptive book... It leaves you wanting more, much more * Observer, on CRIME *Powerful, passionate writing... Welsh gets it just right * Literary Review, on CRIME *Powerful... A bracing and engaging read * Daily Telegraph, on CRIME *

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Book SynopsisThe thrilling new instalment in the globally bestselling Women''s Murder Club series.___________________________________________________Trouble is never far away . . . The Women's Murder Club is out celebrating an engagement at San Francisco's finest restaurant when a blood-curdling scream interrupts the festivities.They soon discover a young woman who has been the victim of a violent assault. Sergeant Lindsay Boxer makes an arrest. Assistant District Attorney Yuki Castellano takes the case.But assigning blame is made impossible due to the victim's chaotic version of events and the shocking reason behind her ever-changing memory.As Yuki argues the toughest case of her career, Lindsay must chase down a high-society killer whose target practice may leave the Women's Murder Club short a bridesmaid . . . or two.______________________________________________________Readers are loving The 24th

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Book Synopsis2016Fresh from her mother's funeral, Mari arrives on Martha's Vineyard off the coast of Massachusetts to study under the enigmatic painter Elizabeth Devereux. But she soon realises that her relationship to the island runs deeper than she ever thought possible. 1942It's World War II, and Smith sisters Briar and Ginny are faced with the impossible task of holding their failing family farm together as the US army arrives on their island. In an attempt for normalcy, the sisters start a book club that quickly grows in numbers and becomes a lifeline for the women who remain on the island. That is, until a German soldier's arrival casts shadows of doubt and danger. Who can they really trust in their tight-knit community?In this spectacular novel inspired by true events, New York Times bestselling author Martha Hall Kelly weaves a captivating tale of love, loss, and resilience.

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Book Synopsis*ONE OF 40 BOOKS FOR SUMMER* 'gripping'- iNews'A panoramic thriller ...chockful of vivid characters.' - THE SUNDAY TIMES'An intriguing, timely and unsettling new thriller' - SAM BOURNE'Exhilarating and beautiful' - AMOL RAJAN'Catapults you from first word to last... pacy, sinister and timely read.' - ALAN JUDD'Another page-turner from a writer who can take you into gripping worlds, real and virtual.' MISHAL HUSAIN 'A terrific thriller - vivid, quick-witted and dynamic, crackling with energy, dread and rage as it crosses continents and digs down into the human heart.' - NICCI GERRARD 'The dark world of private cyber-surveillance crackles off the page - full of jeopardy and suspense.' - ALLAN LITTLE 'A vividly written thriller of ruthless tech entrepreneurs exploiting their surveillance powers and morally compromised journalists feeling their way in the dark towards the truth.' - RORY CELLAN-JONES'Carver is a marvellous creation.' - MIKE RIPLEY, SHOTS MAGKNOWLEDGE IS POWER. AND THEY KNOW EVERYTHING.The tech company Public Square believes in 'doing well by doing good'. It's built a multi-billion dollar business on this philosophy and by getting to know what people want. They know a lot. But who else can access all that information and what are they planning to do with it?Reporter William Carver is an analogue man in a digital world. He isn't the most tech-savvy reporter, he's definitely old school, but he needs to learn fast - the people he cares most about are in harm's way.From the Chilean mines where they dig for raw materials that enable the tech revolution, to the streets of Hong Kong where anti-government protesters are fighting against the Chinese State, to the shiny research laboratories of Silicon Valley where personal data is being mined everyday - A Cursed Place is a gripping thriller set against the global forces that shape our times.'A true page turner - highly recommended'. TORTOISETrade Review*Praise for A Cursed Place* A panoramic thriller that shuttles with aplomb between four continents... chockful of vivid characters -- JOHN DUGDALE * The Sunday Times *Whether in rioting Hong Kong, or a doomed Chilean mining town, or a sinister data-mining outfit in Silicon Valley, or the shabbiness of London's Elephant & Castle, Peter Hanington sustains a narrative drive that catapults you from first word to last. Just make sure you don't miss the scenery on the way - seeing from the inside how the BBC works and how news is made leaves you feeling that W1A may not be entirely caricature. A good, pacy, sinister and timely read. -- ALAN JUDD * author of A Fine Madness *Peter Hanington draws you into the dark world of private cyber-surveillance, and the menace of the world he conjures - the world we all now live in - crackles off the page. His characters are beautifully drawn and so convincing that I found myself shouting "Get out of there now!" The writing is taut - not a wasted word - and the story is fast-paced, moving and twisting and quickening to a conclusion that is full of jeopardy and suspense. And when it ends, it doesn't end: it leaves you wanting the next chapter. -- ALLAN LITTLEA Cursed Place is an exhilarating and beautiful novel that answers the most pressing question of our time: how to reconcile new technology with timeless human needs. It is written with such verve and precision, and its plot emerges with such terrifying force, that I enjoyed it even when the message it conveyed terrified me. Its characters will, I think, become literary legends. I have gotten to know William Carver quite well. He feels achingly familiar from my newspaper days. I don't always like him. But I do always admire him: especially that itchy yearning to hold mighty powers to account, and to discover the truth behind their dissembling. Peter Hanington's remarkable achievement is to have told a story which is as important as it is unputdownable. Anyone vaguely interested in the survival of our species ought to read this book - and will be thrilled they did so. -- AMOL RAJANHanington's third thriller featuring veteran BBC reporter, William Carver, is a true page-turner, combining the author's insights and expertise as a distinguished foreign correspondent with a pace that keeps the reader guessing and embroiled in a plot that sweeps us from Peckham, via Hong Kong and Chile, to the Big Tech citadels of Silicon Valley...highly recommended. * Tortoise *Another page-turner from a writer who can take you into gripping worlds, real and virtual. -- MISHAL HUSAINAn intriguing, timely and unsettling new thriller. -- SAM BOURNE (JONATHAN FREEDLAND)A Cursed Place is a fast-paced and vividly written thriller. It takes the reader on a journey from the dark heart of Silicon Valley via a Chilean mining town and Hong Kong street protests and into the bowels of New Broadcasting House, in a dystopian tale of ruthless tech entrepreneurs exploiting their surveillance powers and morally compromised journalists feeling their way in the dark towards the truth. -- RORY CELLAN-JONESAstute, pacy and possibly too true for its own good. -- GILLIAN REYNOLDSCarver is a marvellous creation, just the sort of tough-as-old-boots hero we need in a world run by algorithms. -- MIKE RIPLEY * Shots Mag *A Cursed Place will have readers cancelling meetings and postponing dinner plans so as to read just one more page, just one more chapter. This beautifully-written thriller tells a story centred not around spies or mobsters but the state of frontline journalism in the era of big tech. More widely it grapples with the possibility of resisting the total-surveillance society we are almost definitely otherwise hurtling towards. -- SEB EMINA * The Happy Reader *Exciting, addictive & just plain brilliant; a timely political thriller with that authentic insider's view shining through in the gripping plot, spot-on characters, & sharp dialogue. A must-read for 2021. -- CAROLINE SKANNE * editor of the journal of the British Haiku Society *A gripping... thriller that spins from Hong Kong protests to Silicon Valley surveillance in a heartbeat. * i Magazine *Gorgeous... blocks out the world when my brain [wants] superb distraction * Fi Glover **Praise for A Dying Breed*A former stalwart on the Today programme, Hanington is as good on BBC politics as he is on the UK's ambiguous role east of Suez, and excels, too, at character portraits of figures such as the British ambassador. There are nods to John le Carré, but his impressive debut is its own thing, with three radio men (including the Radio 4 breakfast show's dissolute editor) at its centre, not spooks or civil servants. * The Sunday Times (Thriller of the Month) *A tremendous novel - shot-through with great authenticity and insider knowledge - wholly compelling and shrewdly wise. -- WILLIAM BOYDAn impressive debut by Peter Hanington... The multilayered plot, set in Afghanistan and BBC headquarters, moves excitingly and entertainingly but also raises serious current issues about dodgy political and commercial interference with the search for truth by journalists...The subplots and secondary characters are admirable. Hanington has true talent. * The Times *A Dying Breed is an enthralling page-turner, and, as befits an author steeped in newsgathering, there's a real sense of authority and authenticity at work in this quality thriller. -- MICHAEL PALINIt is a fine thriller: pacy without being frenetic, complex without being convoluted, innovative but without abandoning all of the satisfying clichés and conventions o the genre. Hannington seems to have an innate sense of how and when to push the plot along, while still giving us enough time to savour the characterisation and locations (Hong Kong, in particular). * Michael Duggan *

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Book Synopsis*ONE OF 40 BOOKS FOR SUMMER* 'gripping'- iNews'A panoramic thriller ...chockful of vivid characters' THE SUNDAY TIMES'An intriguing, timely and unsettling new thriller' SAM BOURNE'Catapults you from first word to last... pacy, sinister and timely read' ALAN JUDD'Another page-turner from a writer who can take you into gripping worlds, real and virtual.' MISHAL HUSAIN 'The dark world of private cyber-surveillance crackles off the page - full of jeopardy and suspense.' ALLAN LITTLEKNOWLEDGE IS POWER. AND THEY KNOW EVERYTHING.The tech company Public Square believes in 'doing well by doing good'. It's built a multi-billion dollar business on this philosophy and by getting to know what people want. They know a lot. But who else can access all that information and what are they planning to do with it?Radio reporter William Carver is an analogue man in a digital world. He isn't the most tech-savvy reporter, he's definitely old school, but he needs to learn fast - the people he cares most about are in harm's way.From the Chilean mines where they dig for raw materials that enable the tech revolution, to the streets of Hong Kong where anti-government protesters are fighting against the Chinese State, to the shiny research laboratories of Silicon Valley where personal data is being mined everyday - A Cursed Place is a gripping thriller set against the global forces that shape our times.'A true page turner - highly recommended'. TORTOISETrade Review*Praise for A Cursed Place* A panoramic thriller that shuttles with aplomb between four continents... chockful of vivid characters -- JOHN DUGDALE * The Sunday Times *Whether in rioting Hong Kong, or a doomed Chilean mining town, or a sinister data-mining outfit in Silicon Valley, or the shabbiness of London's Elephant & Castle, Peter Hanington sustains a narrative drive that catapults you from first word to last. Just make sure you don't miss the scenery on the way - seeing from the inside how the BBC works and how news is made leaves you feeling that W1A may not be entirely caricature. A good, pacy, sinister and timely read. -- ALAN JUDD * author of A Fine Madness *Peter Hanington draws you into the dark world of private cyber-surveillance, and the menace of the world he conjures - the world we all now live in - crackles off the page. His characters are beautifully drawn and so convincing that I found myself shouting "Get out of there now!" The writing is taut - not a wasted word - and the story is fast-paced, moving and twisting and quickening to a conclusion that is full of jeopardy and suspense. And when it ends, it doesn't end: it leaves you wanting the next chapter. -- ALLAN LITTLEA Cursed Place is an exhilarating and beautiful novel that answers the most pressing question of our time: how to reconcile new technology with timeless human needs. It is written with such verve and precision, and its plot emerges with such terrifying force, that I enjoyed it even when the message it conveyed terrified me. Its characters will, I think, become literary legends. I have gotten to know William Carver quite well. He feels achingly familiar from my newspaper days. I don't always like him. But I do always admire him: especially that itchy yearning to hold mighty powers to account, and to discover the truth behind their dissembling. Peter Hanington's remarkable achievement is to have told a story which is as important as it is unputdownable. Anyone vaguely interested in the survival of our species ought to read this book - and will be thrilled they did so. -- AMOL RAJANHanington's third thriller featuring veteran BBC reporter, William Carver, is a true page-turner, combining the author's insights and expertise as a distinguished foreign correspondent with a pace that keeps the reader guessing and embroiled in a plot that sweeps us from Peckham, via Hong Kong and Chile, to the Big Tech citadels of Silicon Valley...highly recommended. * Tortoise *Another page-turner from a writer who can take you into gripping worlds, real and virtual. -- MISHAL HUSAINAn intriguing, timely and unsettling new thriller. -- SAM BOURNE (JONATHAN FREEDLAND)A Cursed Place is a fast-paced and vividly written thriller. It takes the reader on a journey from the dark heart of Silicon Valley via a Chilean mining town and Hong Kong street protests and into the bowels of New Broadcasting House, in a dystopian tale of ruthless tech entrepreneurs exploiting their surveillance powers and morally compromised journalists feeling their way in the dark towards the truth. -- RORY CELLAN-JONESAstute, pacy and possibly too true for its own good. -- GILLIAN REYNOLDSCarver is a marvellous creation, just the sort of tough-as-old-boots hero we need in a world run by algorithms. -- MIKE RIPLEY * Shots Mag *A Cursed Place will have readers cancelling meetings and postponing dinner plans so as to read just one more page, just one more chapter. This beautifully-written thriller tells a story centred not around spies or mobsters but the state of frontline journalism in the era of big tech. More widely it grapples with the possibility of resisting the total-surveillance society we are almost definitely otherwise hurtling towards. -- SEB EMINA * The Happy Reader *Exciting, addictive & just plain brilliant; a timely political thriller with that authentic insider's view shining through in the gripping plot, spot-on characters, & sharp dialogue. A must-read for 2021. -- CAROLINE SKANNE * editor of the journal of the British Haiku Society *A gripping... thriller that spins from Hong Kong protests to Silicon Valley surveillance in a heartbeat. * i Magazine *Gorgeous... blocks out the world when my brain [wants] superb distraction * Fi Glover **Praise for A Dying Breed*A former stalwart on the Today programme, Hanington is as good on BBC politics as he is on the UK's ambiguous role east of Suez, and excels, too, at character portraits of figures such as the British ambassador. There are nods to John le Carré, but his impressive debut is its own thing, with three radio men (including the Radio 4 breakfast show's dissolute editor) at its centre, not spooks or civil servants. * The Sunday Times (Thriller of the Month) *A tremendous novel - shot-through with great authenticity and insider knowledge - wholly compelling and shrewdly wise. -- WILLIAM BOYDAn impressive debut by Peter Hanington... The multilayered plot, set in Afghanistan and BBC headquarters, moves excitingly and entertainingly but also raises serious current issues about dodgy political and commercial interference with the search for truth by journalists...The subplots and secondary characters are admirable. Hanington has true talent. * The Times *A Dying Breed is an enthralling page-turner, and, as befits an author steeped in newsgathering, there's a real sense of authority and authenticity at work in this quality thriller. -- MICHAEL PALIN

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Book Synopsis'Authentic social history at the birth of the NHS, an intriguing murder, a strong and convincing central character, and McPherson's wonderful story-telling skills make this a very classy mystery' ANN CLEEVES'A hauntingly atmospheric weaving of social history and layered mystery, with a gutsy heroine determined to deliver justice. McPherson's writing is compelling, moving and memorable' SARAH YARWOOD-LOVETTHelen leaned close enough to fog the mirror with her breath and whispered, 'You, my girl, are a qualified medical almoner and at eight o'clock tomorrow morning you will be on the front line of the National Health Service of Scotland.' Her eyes looked huge and scared. 'So take a shake to yourself!'' Edinburgh, 1948. Helen Crowther leaves a crowded tenement home for her very own office in a doctor's surgery. Upstart, ungrateful, out of your depth - the words of disapproval come at her from everywhere but she's determined to take her chance and play her part. She's barely begun when she stumbles over a murder and learns that, in this most respectable of cities, no one will fight for justice at the risk of scandal. As Helen resolves to find a killer, she's propelled into a darker world than she knew existed, hardscrabble as her own can be. Disapproval is the least of her worries now. IN PLACE OF FEAR is a gripping new historical crime novel that is both enthralling and entertaining, and perfect for fans of AJ Pearce and Nicola Upson.Readers love IN PLACE OF FEAR:'What a wonderful book this is!''I loved [it] ... Helen is another cracker of a heroine from McPherson and I hope to read much more of her story in future' 'Historical crime from a talented pen. Intriguing and compelling in equal measure''An excellent read'Trade ReviewA hauntingly atmospheric weaving of social history and layered mystery, with a gutsy heroine determined to deliver justice. McPherson's writing is compelling, moving and memorable * Sarah Yarwood-Lovett *

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Book Synopsis'Perfect if you loved THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB' - reader review'An entertaining romp and a fascinating insight into the weird and wonderful ways of the British aristocracy' S.J. Bennett, author of The Windsor KnotIt's the 1930s and a mysterious illness is spreading over Scotland. But the noble and ancient family of Inverkillen, residents of Loch Down Abbey, are much more concerned with dwindling toilet roll supplies and who will look after the children now that Nanny has regretfully (and most inconveniently) departed this life.Then Lord Inverkillen, Earl and head of the family, is found dead in mysterious circumstances. The inspector declares it an accident but Mrs MacBain, the head housekeeper, isn't so convinced. As no one is allowed in or out because of the illness, the residents of the house - both upstairs and downstairs - are the only suspects. With the Earl's own family too busy doing what can only be described as nothing, she decides to do some digging - in between chores, of course - and in doing so uncovers a whole host of long-hidden secrets, lies and betrayals that will alter the dynamics of the household for ever.Perfect for fans of Downton Abbey, Agatha Christie and Richard Osman's The Thursday Murder Club, LOCH DOWN ABBEY is a playful, humorous mystery that will keep you glued to the page!READERS LOVE LOCH DOWN ABBEY!'Beautifully written . . . this is a joyous read that will stay with me for a long time' - 5 STARS'The ending took me completely by surprise but in the best way' - 5 STARS'If you want to escape for a while, this is definitely a good book for that' - 5 STARSTthis very funny and unputdownable novel is a sure winner from start to finish! To be enjoyed without moderation.' - 5 STARS'It's amazing what secrets are hidden . . . Excellent :)' - 5 STARS

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Book SynopsisThe brand-new gripping thriller in Will Shindler''s acclaimed DI Alex Finn series''Another gripping thriller of a read. Twists galore and a damn good read'' Reader review ?????Years ago someone got away with murder... But time''s up.2009 During a summer heatwave, teenagers are going missing. Junior officer Alex Finn takes the case and fears that the disappearances are linked. In a race against the clock to find and rescue the children alive, Finn and his team are only partially successful. Two of the children are saved, but they were too late for Oliver. And the killer got away. 2023 DI Alex Finn is still tormented by the cases of his youth - none more than so than the 2009 kidnappings. And it seems someone else has not forgotten either. They want answers after all this time, and with a gun in their pocket and their sights set on Alex, they''ll do anything to get what they''re after... Highly original

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Book Synopsis'A cracking storyteller' ANN CLEEVESThere is more to solving a crime than following the clues.Welcome to Chief Inspector Gamache's world of facts and feelings.In the green depths of spring, morning breaks on a woman splayed in a bed of flowers - her eyes wide, her neck broken.Her death is a mystery; so is the woman herself. But as Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and his team peer into the dark corners of the victim's past, they expose a secret that rots at the very heart of their community - a secret that will implicate someone they've trusted for years. And as Gamache knows too well, in the flickering shadows of death, the truth may be just a trick of the light.Ten million readers.Three pines.One inimitable Chief Inspector Gamache.'Stellar . . . With her smart plot and fascinating, nuanced characters, Penny proves again that she is one of our finest writers' PEOPLE MAGAZINETrade ReviewStellar . . . With her smart plot and fascinating, nuanced characters, Penny proves again that she is one of our finest writers * People Magazine *Outstanding . . . Penny effectively employs the interplay of light and dark . . . which resonates symbolically in the souls of the characters * Publishers Weekly *A commanding and artful performance . . . For connoisseurs of mysteries, success is judged by the genre's holy trinity: plot, people and prose. When all three attain excellence, a fourth quality shines through: power . . . what lifts her work to the highest plane is the deep sense of humanity with which she invests her novels, and A TRICK OF THE LIGHT satisfies and surpasses that standard * Richmond Times-Dispatch *Louise Penny's writing is intricate, beautiful and compelling. She is an original voice, a distillation of both PD James and Barbara Vine at their peaks and a worthy successor to both * Peter James *

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisJacob Meaney makes so little money as a translator that his girlfriend has given up on him. Then Eloise, an Australian digital marketer, appears out of the blue, offering him unheard of sums for a couple of weeks' work.A private plane and helicopter take him to a showcase villa in Carinthia and all the luxury he could ever want. Here he meets the owner of the house Bondarenko. Unwillingly Jacob has become part of an organised crime conspiracy, held captive there by armed guards. His task is to interpret between Hindi, Russian and English during Zoom calls with Nazim, an Indian criminal whose gang have taken over the manufacture and distribution network of the wonder fertility drug that Bondarenko has been selling on the internet. It becomes clear to Jacob that his employer is in far deeper and more dangerously than he realises. The gang's plan is to take over the entire operation by any means. The villa has become a lethal gilded prison to Jacob and Vlada, the maid who's a trafficked worker. When Nazim finally strikes which side will Jacob take to survive? Fast-moving, tense, glamorous and witty The Conspirators is G. W. Shaw's follow-up to Dead Rich ('A great book by a fabulous writer' Steve Cavanagh) and shows that he's a master of the gripping international thriller genre.Trade ReviewCompletely unique & original. The Conspirators is slick, witty, gripping & packed with non-stop action. It's genre-defying which I LOVED & a brilliantly pieced-together puzzle that keeps you absolutely glued to the page. Stunning. -- Helen FieldsReminiscent of a summer movie blockbuster. A Suspenseful, fast-paced and enjoyable thrill ride with unexpected twists and turns. * Nadine Matheson *Tense and engrossing-a wild ride. * Shari Lapena *This is fast-moving, superior thriller-writing at its best. * Shots *Clever and persuasively written, this international thriller is great fun. * Literary Review *Fresh and darkly comic . . . like an Eric Ambler novel updated to the age of big pharma and cybercrime. * Daily Mail *Some books should come with a warning: caution, addictive content. This new thriller by Brighton resident William Shaw (who also writes crime novels) is one such, sure to keep you avidly reading long after bedtime Tautly written and satisfyingly plotted, you will be gripped. Guaranteed. * Literary Life Sussex *

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Book Synopsis**A Summer 2024 pick in the Times Literary Supplement and the Financial Times**Andrey Kurkov is often called Ukraine''s greatest living writer, and it is a gift for crime fiction fans that he writes in this genre New York TimesA very intriguing and atmospheric novel by a highly accomplished writer . . . A fascinating read in the light of contemporary events Alexander McCall Smith, Bestselling Author of The No. 1 Ladies'' Detective AgencyKyiv, 1919. The Soviets control the city, but White armies menace them from the West. No man trusts his neighbour and any spark of resistance may ignite into open rebellion.When Samson Kolechko''s father is murdered, his last act is to save his son from a falling Cossack sabre. Deprived of his right ear instead of his head, Samson is left an orphan, with only his father''s collection of abacuses for company.Until, that is, his flat is requisitioned

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Book SynopsisOne tiny island, many hidden secrets - the fourth of Peter May's Enzo Files.

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Book SynopsisAn hilarious and gripping festive whodunnit, perfect for fans of Richard Osman and Agatha Christie It's Christmas Eve at the Merry Monarch. Nestled amongst the Yorkshire Dales, the pub is preparing to host its annual scavenger hunt for its rabble of regulars. There's the landlord, Mickey, his wife Sofia and their wayward son, James; local policeman Alex and his supernaturally minded deputy Don; as well as Sita, Mrs Fazarkaley, the Kapoors and Curtis, who's never far from his beloved dog Barkley. Quite the crowd. And this year, they are interrupted by a knock at the door from Maddie Marlowe, a journalist who was homeward bound to Edinburgh for Christmas - only to be stranded by car failure, and by the snow storm that's closing in on the village. But Maddie's arrival won't be the only surprise of the night. When the power is cut off and darkness descends, the hunt turns deadly. Maddie and her unexpected Christmas companions must try to find the murderer amongst them, as it seems one of the group would kill to win . . .'Nothing like a good murder to get you into the Yuletide spirit'  READER REVIEW 'Cosy crime gets festive' WOMAN & HOME 'Really good fun' BEST

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Book SynopsisA beautiful, hardback edition of the iconic crime classic, now a MAJOR NETFLIX SERIES.Tom Ripley wants money, success, and the good life - and he''s willing to kill for it.Struggling to stay one step ahead of his creditors, and the law, Ripley leaps at the chance to start afresh on a free trip to Europe. But when his new-found happiness is threatened, his response is as swift as it is shocking.This is the first in Highsmith''s classic series featuring the character of Tom Ripley. The Talented Mr Ripley inspired the Academy Award-winning film starring Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jude Law, and is now a major Netflix series starring Andrew Scott.''The No.1 Greatest Crime Writer'' The Times''Ripley, amoral, hedonistic and charming, is a genuinely original creation'' Daily Telegraph*One of the BBC''s 100 Novels That Shaped Our World.**As seen on Write Around the World with Rich

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Book SynopsisAn FBI agent from the cult crime beat and a woman with a past linked to the Satanic Panic are drawn into a terrifying hunt for an insane killer hiding in the shadows of the underworld. Can you ever escape your past, or are all your bad decisions just more ghosts to haunt you, wherever you go?

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Book SynopsisThe Eisner-nominated, magical world of hobos in post-WWII America is collected for the first time in a brand new edition!The world''s toughest hobo is searching for the mysterious sinner''s Heaven-Rock Candy Mountain. But why? And why is the Literal Devil chasing him? Jackson will have to survive underground fight clubs, trainyard bulls, the toughest FBI agent you''ve ever seen, prison, newfound friendships and more if he will make his destination. A kung fu, hobo epic the likes you''ve never seen! By Kyle Starks with colors by Chris Schweizer, featuring a brand new cover cover designed by Matt Kindt! Collects Rock Candy Mountain #1 - 8 and includes additional bonus material!

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Book SynopsisLies from the heart lead to a dangerously intimate case for Sheriff Bree Taggert in #1 Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Melinda Leigh’s novel of revenge and fatal deceptions.When a digital marketer is found murdered in his backyard—hands bound and face smothered by plastic wrap—Sheriff Bree Taggert and criminal investigator Matt Flynn respond to the call. Their investigation focuses on the man’s dating-app profile and the word liar carved into his forehead.One day later, the killer strikes again.Both victims are players in the internet dating scene. In their wake, they leave a trail of hurt—and angry—women. But Bree and Matt aren’t convinced the motive is as simple as it appears. Everyone they interview seems to be lying or hiding something.As the list of suspects grows, the killer’s rage escalates, and he leaves a personal and deadly warning for Bree. They must act fast. Because someone Bree loves is targeted as the next to die.

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